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Toyota Announces Motorsports Activities and Plans for 2005

Text: / Photos: | posted November 12, 2004 00:00

Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today its motorsports plans for 2005, which place competing in the top racing categories of the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1), the IRL (Indy Racing League) IndyCar Series and the Super GT World Challenge (Super GT) Series races as its three main pillars. TMC also plans to continue cultivating top drivers for the future and carrying out activities that serve to support the foundations of motorsports.

For Toyota's fourth year of F1 participation, under the new technical regulations implemented for the 2005 season, Toyota is set to take on the competition with its new F1 car, the Toyota TF105, which has strived to attain maximum improvement in aerodynamic performance and reliability-and drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher. In the IRL IndyCar Series, where Toyota provides engines to six teams (for a total of 10 cars), the Toyota teams will aim to win the Indy Japan (Motegi) race and the legendary Indy 500. Toyota will continue to support teams participating in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the U.S. in which Toyota's Tundra pickup truck has participated since last year, clocking up a total of four wins to date. Within Japan, Toyota will continue to support teams participating in the Super GT World Challenge Series.

TMC is also actively identifying new talent and providing drivers with training and experience through its Toyota Driver Development Program. The respective programs in Japan and Europe will be integrated and centrally managed.

To further support the foundations of motorsports, Toyota will contribute by sponsoring one-make races in Japan including the ESSO Formula Toyota Series and Netz Cup races (Vitz Series and Altezza Series). In the United States, Toyota will continue its active contributions including support for the CART Toyota Atlantic Series.

The Motor Sports Division of the Higashifuji Technical Center is currently in charge of Toyota's overall motorsports activities, while Toyota Technocraft Co., Ltd./TRD in Japan, TRD-USA Inc. in the U.S. and Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) in Europe serve as local hubs for regional activities.

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